The head of Britain’s military has warned, Russia could try to sever global underwater communications cables. This could potentially trigger catastrophic repercussions for the economy and way of life in the West.

According to analysts, the vast majority of global internet and telephone traffic relied on by Western governments, economies and civilians is carried by cables that crisscross the world's seabeds. NATO has prioritized missions to protect these undersea lines of communication. Chief Marshall Stuart Peach told the Royal United Services Institute, that “Russia, in addition to new ships and submarines, continues to perfect both unconventional capabilities and information warfare."